A college basketball preview article carried on ESPN.com heaped a pleasant surprise on the Lipscomb athletic program. Not only was the basketball team praised for their progress -- from a 7-21 record in 2004 to 21-11 in 2006 -- the athletic department was lauded for its priorities.

"We are extremely proud of our two A-Sun championships; but we are just as proud of our student-athletes when they walk through the line, earn their diplomas, and become difference-makers."

Dr. Steve Potts

"It's a great story," (Atlantic Sun Commissioner Bill) Bibb said. "Coach Sanderson's done an incredible job, and Lipscomb's done it the right way ... with strong commitments to both athletics and academics. I'm proud of what they've done."

Athletic Director Steve Potts praised his coaches for the accomplishments.

"Our coaches do a tremendous job bringing in student-athletes who understand our interest in strong character and our determination toward academic performance," Potts said. "We are extremely proud of our two A-Sun championships; but we are just as proud of our student-athletes when they walk through the line, earn their diplomas, and become difference-makers."

Men's Basketball Coach Scott Sanderson -- 2006 A-Sun Coach of the Year -- offered a hint into his team's success: "We've tried to sign guys with good character, guys who do it the way we ask them to do it. Sometimes, you lose sight of that stuff, but we've been lucky enough to find guys with good character who've bought in. They've got to buy in to what you're doing."

The Bisons were praised for earning a berth in the A-Sun tournament in their first year to qualify, 2005, and for making it through to the finals in 2006 before falling in overtime. The team turned its regular season co-champion title into a first-ever trip to the NCAA post-season -- an NIT bid against the UTEP Miners in El Paso.

According to at least one writer, the Bisons' surge is expected to continue. Article author Kyle Whelliston quotes Bracketology expert Joe Lunardi in picking Lipscomb as the A-Sun's lone rep in his early look at the 2007 NCAA Tournament.

For the complete article by Kyle Whelliston, founder of midmajority.com, go to: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2517144